Display feathers in final confrontation (8)
I believe the answer is:
showdown
'final confrontation' is the definition.
(a showdown is a confrontation between two people)
'display feathers' is the wordplay.
'display' becomes 'show' (synonyms).
'feathers' becomes 'down' (down can mean bird feathers).
'show'+'down'='SHOWDOWN'
'in' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for showdown that I've seen before include "Final confrontation as in western film" , "Decisive confrontation" , "Climactic finale" , "Denouement" , "Dramatic conclusion" .)